Toilet-paper holder



(No Model.)

P. M. WHITELAW. TOILET PAPER HOLDER.

No. 470,906 Patented Mar. 15, 1892.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

FRANCIS M. WVHITELAW, OF HARTWELL, OIIIO, ASSIGNOR TO THE NATIONAL FLY-PAPER COMPANY, OF CINCINNATI, OHIO.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 470,906, dated March 15, 1892.

Application filed November 15, 1890- Serial No. 371,594. (No model.)

To aZZ whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, FRANCIS M. WHITELAW, a citizen of the United States, residing at Hartwell,-in the county of Hamilton and State of Ohio, have invented a Combined Package or rapper and Holder for Toilet-Paper, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to that class of toiletpaper-holder devices in which a pack of separate sheets is fed or advanced toward a discharge-opening by a pressure device, all of which will be fully hereinafter described, and particularly pointed out in the claims.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is perspective front View of my invention in its preferred form; Fig. 2, a perspective rear view thereof; Fig. 3, a vertical cross-section on line no a: of Fig. 1; Fig. 4, a perspective view of a pack of separate sheets of toiletpaper and thepreferred form of spring-pressure device used in my holder; Fig. 5, a detail perspective view of said spring-pressure device; Fig. 6, a rear elevation of the same; Fig. 7, a front elevation of the same; Fig. 8, an elevation of the back of my holder, showing the manner in which the sides and ends are prepared prior to their being turned or bent inwardly to form the flanges 0r sides and ends of said back; Fig. 9, a perspective view of the lid or front of my holder-wrapper looking inwardly from its rear; Fig. 10, a perspective view of a modified form of my invention; Fig. 11, a central vertical cross-section online y y of .Fig. 10 to show the orifices in the wrapper or holder at both sides there- ,of for access to the paper; and Fig. 12, a perspective view of the package and holder shown in Fig. 1, but with a temporary filling in the front orifice thereof.

A represents an ordinary paper-box lid having the usual longitudinal side flanges a and transverse end flanges Ct.

A is a facial opening or orifice in the front of lid A, preferably central and rectangular, as shown in Figs. 1, 9, and 10.

B represents an ordinary box-body or backsection having the usual side flanges b and end flanges b. Y

0 represents a pack of separate sheets of toilet-paper placed in the box or receptacle formed by the union of the lid A and body B,

the latter fitting within the former, as customary.

19 are fastening pins or tacks at the top an bottom of the box or holder to secure the said lid and body together and prevent their accidental separation or parting. Itis obvious that glue or mucilage or other suitable means could be used instead of said pins or tacks to secure said parts for same purpose. I b b are elongated holes or openings in the back or bod yB to'engage hooks, nails, screws, or the like on a wall or elsewhere for convenient suspension and attachment.

C representsa sheet of straw-board or other suitable material, bentor folded at its center, as clearly shown in Figs. 3, at, and 5, and provided with horizontal slits or notches a, just above and below its opposite ends, as clearly seen in Figs. 5, 6, and 7.

D represents an ordinary endless rubber band engaging the slits c'and drawn taut, so that it has a tendency to close the said folding sheet C.

d is a thick sheet or backing for the pack of toilet-paper, as very clearly shown in Figs.

3 and 4, the said folding sheet C, with its straining rubber band, being interposed in an open orextended condition betweenthe back of the holder-box and said backing d to form a spring-pressure device for advancing and holding the pack of toilet-paper against the inner face of the facial orificed box-lid or front section A and thereby compensating for the removal of successive sheets from said 8 5 pack.

One of the many simple ways of removing a sheet from the box or holder through its central orifice is to slightly dampen or moisten the tip of the middle finger, press it lightly on c thesheet, and draw downwardly toward the thumb, this action tending to place a sufficient portion of said sheet between said finger and thumb to enable the user to readily pull or draw the sheet through said facial orifice 9 5 without tearing same or, under ordinary conditions, removing more than a single sheet at a time.

I prefer to make the wrapper as shown in Figs. 1, 2, and 3, whereby it may also be utilroo ized as a holder for the paper in use, the sides and ends of the holder-box, as well as its face,

it is obvious that said sides and ends couldv be dispensed with, together with the folding sheet 0' and its straining rubber band or spring D, and the pack of sheets held between two stiff sheets or plates having central facial orifices in one or both of them and spring-pressure rubber bands e e, encircling the package so constituted above and below said orifices, as shown in the modified form, Figs. 10 and 11. The latter form of package could be used from either or both sides, as desired, and suitably hung or laid in a convenient place for use.

No waste or scattering of paper could possibly occur in the use of my package and bolder, as herein constructed, and as the cover thereof answers both that of wrapper and holder a very compact, convenient, and economical article of manufacture ready for easy attachment and immediate use is produced.

The holder-box is preferably made of ordinary straw-b rd, which is very cheap, and when its contents are exhausted it can be thrown away or destroyed,if desired, without material waste or loss:

Instead of having the spring-pressure device to feed the pack of paper up to the orificed front of the holder-package, such device could be entirely dispensed with, if desired, and the paper placed loosely in the box or holder and readily drawn through said orifice. It is also obvious that the facial orifice could be made elsewhere in the box-front than in its center and the paper just as readily withdrawn.

In Fig. 12 I have shown the orifice A as being closed with a temporary filler E. This filler is simply the piece of straw or card board removed from the front A to form said orifice, and is thus utilized to advantage in performing said function of closing said orifice without extra expense, and thereby preserves the paper clean and intact.

To hold or sustain the filler E in place a dab ofpaste or mucilage is put on its inner face, which comes in contact with the outer sheet of toilet-paper, the latter being very readily removed with said filler when access to the paper through the orifice is desired. The face of the filler can be utilized for advertising purposes or directions for use, and thus forms an important adjunct of the package.

WVhat I claim is- 1. As an article of manufacture, a combined wrapper and holder for toilet-paper, composed of the lid or front section A,having an orifice A in its face, body, or rear section B, and a folding sheet C, having a straining-spring or elastic band D, said sheet 0 and elastic band D forming a spring-pressure device, whereby the pack of sheets is actuated or advanced up to the facial-orificed front for removal sheet by sheet through said facial orifice,'substantially as herein set forth.

2. The combined wrapper and holder for sheet toilet-paper, composed of the front section A, having orifice A in its face, body, or rear section B, folding sheet C, having spring or elastic band D, backing (Z for the pack of thin sheets of paper, and elongated holes or openings b in said back section B, substantially as and for the purpose specified.

In testimony of which invention I have hereunto set my hand.

FRANCIS M. WIII'lELAW.

lVitnesses:

ALFRED B. TURNER, JOHN E. JONES. 

